The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-07-23
sSOUTMERN ENTERPRISE"
New York Hesatd.l

Every man in the North congratU-
lates the people of the South on the
tremendous industrial gait they have
struck during the last three or four
years. They have tightened their belts
for u long race, and in the course OF the
next decade or two will give some of,
the manufacturing interests of the
North n pretty serious competitive rub.
Last year-lSS6-was the banner year
/ in the commercial history of our wido
awake neighbOrs between the Potomac
and the Gulf. The amount of capital
represented by new enterprises in min
Ing and manufacturing, and the ems
largement Of old plants, which were
compelled to increase their facilities to
meet the growing demand, reached
very nearly the large aggregate of one
hundred and thirty millions. This was
u great advance on the previous twelve
months, when only one-half Of that
sum was Invested. Kentucky took the
lead with over twenty-eight millions,
aud following close on her heels was
Tennessee with twenty-one millions,
while Alabama was II plucky third
with twenty millions. The other States
brought up the rear-Vireinia, West
Virginia and Maryland with eight
millions each, and the rest with sums
varying from II couple OF millions to
few hundred thousands.
This was not the result of Il tempo-
rary boom which will leave the South
stranded by and by. 1T was indicative
of healthy progress and Indefinite
growth. During the first six months
of 1857 tho figures which we have
named have been startlingly enlarged,
Every city aud town is increasing in
size; real estate Is climbing up and tho
promise of good results in almost all
kinds OF investments has attracted a
large amount of European capital.
1t is very clear that the South has
recognized the value Of its natural re-
sources and proposes to make the most
of them. Old King Cotton, who for
three generations ruled with undis-
putcd sway, has found IL mighty rival
In tho immense beds Of iron ore which
have been unearthed in Alabama,
Georgia, North Carolina, Missouri and
half dozen other localities. In 1850
Alabama had u capacity for producing
10000 tons Of pig.iron, but last year
she ran the figure up to nearly 400, 900.
Tennessee gave jump from 13l, 900 to
$780, 900, and Virginia emulated her OK
ample by Ieaping from 10000 to 27S,-
600. 1t is closely estimated that in tho
next ten years the Southern States will
be able to turn into the market some.
thing like 10000 tons of pig-iron
annually.
There nre also founuries, steel rail
mills, carriage and wagon factories,
lumber mills, agricultural implement
factories, cotton mills, and, IN u word,
every kind Of enterprise which draws
capital and invites immigration.
All this constitutes one of tho hnp-
piest Omens OF our national future,
Tho old teud which had its origin in
slave labor and made it impossible for
North and South to shake hands with
anything like genuine cordiulity has
died out. II was tho sole cause of the
thousand misunderstanding which
fretted and teased every patriot, and
were the dismay of every statesman.
The firebrand has been thrown into the
Atlantic. Every possibility of sectional
disagreement was eXtinguished at the
same time. To-day there IL through
out the North Il genuine aud hearty
pride in the dash, courage aud teuacity
Of the commercial spirit throughout
the South. We ourselves had in car
lier years the same fndescribable cx-
perience OF discovering that the land
under our feet is absolutely exhaust
less in the resources ii offers, and IL we
went wild over the material devcIou-
ment of country that seemed ~ pe n
continental horn OF plenty the South
will appreciate our condition OF mind.
for it is now enjoying the same thing
itself. OF course we could think of
nothing but dollars, for thcy were hid,
den every. where and were TO be had
for the seeking. Preachers grew prum
and iugubriOus over this worldly splri,
which took possession of us, Out who
could help it? We found ourselves in
q magnificent country stretching from
ocean to ocean, and there was not n
spot where money was moi TO be had.
Brains and a fortune were only scpa-
rated by few years. There Wns
enough for alt, aud something to
spare.
Now the South has joined u. II has
walked UP to recognition Of the facts
Of tue case. 1t has iron, coal, lime
stone, mill streams, II rich sot-every-
thing that great people need to make
them prosperous and happy. And
/ hereafter there Is to be Il Tremendous
rivalry between the two sections OF the
country. 1t will not be political, as
| heretofore, but commercial. II will
not drag us apart, but draw us together.
Southern capt. Il viii fiud its way into
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